Education on the State of Indiana’s property tax assessment system,as well as other tax education and information, will be part of a two-dayinformational blitz by Operation TEN (Tax Education Now) tax educatorsMorton Marcus, Indiana University,and Dan Lowery and Joe Gomeztagle of IndianaUniversity Northwest. On Sept. 12 and 13, Operation TEN, IUNorthwest and The Times will sponsor four 2-hour seminars, visitseveral schools and a hold a 4-hour luncheon and informational sessionaddressing topics such as economic growth, government efficiency, and howto understand the state’s tax structure and process.

Highlighting the luncheon and informational session will be IU NorthwestChancellor Bruce Bergland whowill be keynote speaker. The program will be on Sept. 12 from 12:30 to4:30 p.m. at Lake Hills Country Club in St. John. Featured speakers, Marcus,Lowery, and Gomeztagle will be joined by Larry DeBoer of PurdueUniversity to discuss tax and government issues, as well as OperationsTen’s continued education of Indiana residents to insure fair propertytax assessments.

The property tax seminars are scheduled for Sept. 12 from 9:30 to 11:30a.m., and from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the LakeCounty Public Library in Merrillville, and on Sept. 13 from 9:30 to11:30 a.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Indiana University Northwest in the AcademicActivities Building (SavannahCenter).

Operation TEN is the result of St. John resident, Joe Gomeztagle’slong, but successful fight to prove the state’s property tax system isunconstitutional. After winning a lawsuit with the Indiana Supreme Courtchallenging the constitutionality of the assessment system, Gomeztaglegained support of Marcus, well-known economist and director of IndianaBusiness Research Center at IU’s KellySchool of Business, and Operation TEN was formed.

“Operation TEN is a statewide educational effort made up of economiceducators from around the state that help Hoosiers gain a clearer understanding of the state’s tax system,” explains Gomeztagle, who is also project managerof the program. “Through various forms of education, the project explainsin clear language where tax revenues come from and how they are spent.We believe that when there is a better understanding of the tax system,people are better prepared to make informed electoral and political choices.”Part of the organization’s goal for education is to train teachers, developcurriculum and produce materials to students encouraging economic literacy.

Operation TEN seminars are free of charge to the community. The Sept.12th luncheon and informational session is $20. More information is with Gomeztagle at the IU Northwest Division ofBusiness and Economics at 219-980-6910or joetaxes@iunbus1.iun.indiana.edu.